The story of the Little Trees air freshener

The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart is renowned for its extensive collection of historic cars. 

Yet it also hosts a further 1,500 other exhibits, with 33 focussed on the special accessories that have made a mark on automotive culture

Nothing is too humble for the Mercedes-Benz museum it seems, with even the classic Little Trees air freshener included.

No more crying over spilt milk

Story of the Little Trees Air Freshener

A car accessory staple to file alongside beaded seat covers and a ‘Baby On Board’ sticker, Little Trees are set to celebrate a 70th anniversary in 2022. 

The idea was created by German-Canadian chemist Julius Sämann in 1952. A milk truck driver from upstate New York had complained to Sämann about the putrid smell left by spilt milk. 

Sämann’s solution was to soak porous cardboard in pine needle oil, creating a way to release the clean scent over a long period of time. 

The choice of the Little Trees design was an easy one for Sämann. He simply wanted to honour the Canadian pine forests that gave his product its distinct aroma.

Sweet smell of success

Story of the Little Trees Air Freshener

First produced in Watertown, New York, the iconic Little Trees are still manufactured there today. Others are made in a separate facility in DeWitt, Idaho. 

From the original Royal Pine scent, the company now offers a total of 42 different varieties. These include Pina Colada, and even Pure Steel. However, it is the Green Apple flavour that Mercedes-Benz chooses to showcase in its museum. 

Little Trees do also form a link to more modern Mercedes-Benz developments. The Air-Balance system, fitted to a range of models, offers a selection of scents whilst ionising the interior air. 

Clever, but perhaps not quite the same retro chic as a cardboard tree hanging from your interior mirror.

ALSO READ

Mercedes-Benz 190: celebrating a classic

The W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is officially a classic

The ‘go-anywhere car’: the history of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

spot_imgspot_img

Latest

The story of Japan’s tiny kei cars

Your pocket guide to Japan’s tiny, quirky and brilliant kei cars – including some of our favourite models

Manual gearbox kit offered for BMW M3 CSL

Banbury-based Everything M3s is offering a manual gearbox conversion for the E46 BMW M3 CSL, which replaces the SMG semi-auto 'box fitted when new.

Auction Car of the Week: 1973 Aston Martin Vantage

This very original 1973 Aston Martin Vantage is one of just 71 examples made – and it's up for auction on Car & Classic.

1984 Ferrari 308 GTS review: Retro Road Test

We follow in the tyre tracks of 1980s TV detective Magnum P.I. by driving a classic Ferrari 308 GTS. Read on for our Retro Road Test.

Remembering the launch of the Lotus Elise

Patrick Peal, former Head of Communications at Lotus, recalls the day when the Elise was revealed to the world. Will we see its like again?